meal planning monday

Monday: Bagel Sandwiches & Chips

Tuesday: Eggs in a Basket & Bacon

Wednesday: Taco Salad

Thursday: Chicken Poppyseed, Green Beans & French Bread

Friday: Roast Beef Sandwiches & Chips 

Saturday Breakfast: Homemade Donuts

Saturday Lunch: Leftovers

Saturday Dinner: Cookout @ The Reams

Sunday Lunch: Out

Sunday Dinner: Stromboli

pearson {3 years 10 months}

Oh my goodness child, you keep us laughing all the time! You are always saying the funniest things.  You are such a chatterbox too!! I wonder who you get that from?? This month has been such a good one.  You are really growing out of that "threenager" attitude and have just been a joy to be around lately.  Don't get me wrong, you still have your moment, but I think we are definitely nearing that "magical fours" age.  

• Every time I cut something with a knife you ask, "Is that knife shark"?
• You told me while I was nursing Nash that "To nurse means when a baby is hungry they can eat breastmilk out of their Mommy's tummy."
• In the mornings when I leave the scale out, you like to hop on and say "I need to check my feet!"
• A tennis shoe is a tissue.
• One day you asked me if Lolly & Pops had kids. I told you that I was their kid and you look at me funny and said "No, that's silly, you're not a kid, you are a Mommy!"
• We were eating pork chops for dinner and you asked what it was.  Daddy had the grand idea to tell you that it was pig.  I wasn't quite ready to go there yet, but then you asked, "Is this pig chicken?"
• Pops has a camper that he pulls behind his truck.  We were out and about one day and you saw a motor home and yelled out, "Look Mommy, that camper is driving all by itself!"
• I have been watching a lot of Fixer Upper lately and you love to watch it with me.  Your favorite part is Demo Day.  The other day you asked if those guys were going to come to Tyler and break our new house!
• You were trying to find Netflix on the iPad and you told me it was in the Potos and Videos folder.  I corrected you and said it's Photos.  You said, "No is Potos, it starts with a P." I explained that when P & H are together it says the F sound and you just said "well that's silly!"
• Anytime a thought comes you mind you say "Hey, I have a dea". (idea)
• Last week your idea what they your  bedtime could be at 6pm when you turn 4.  Sure thing buddy!
• You always want to know what time it is and you ask "What kind of time is it?"
• You want to be a deli guy when you grow up. 
• When we were in Denison visiting family we saw a head statue of Dwight Eisenhower. You began to ask who he was.  We explained that he used to be a president a long time ago but he got old and died.  You replied, "So he died and turned into a head statue."
• When parking in front of the barber the other day you said we were parked in "4 Hore Parking" in stead of 4 Hour Parking.  It caught me by surprise when you said that because I hadn't seen the sign yet! 

nash {14 months}

Measurements: 
25ish lbs pounds; not sure in length
You are wearing 18 month PJ's some 24 months, 12-18 month and some 18-24 month/2T hand me down shirts, 18 month pants.  You are in size 4 diapers and size 3 or 4 shoes when you keep them on.  

Sleeping: 
Another great month of sleeping! You even slept in a few mornings until 7:30.  It was so bizarre to have Pearson wake up first.  For the most part, you daily wake up time is around 6:30.  You are starting to wake up a little happier in the mornings.  You cry out a little, but when I get in there you promptly greet me with a "Heeeeyyyy".  Poor second child, morning nap just happens when ever we can fit it in.  Most days we are home for morning nap.  I just put you down whenever you get fussy which is usually around 9:30.  Morning nap is getting shorter and shorter and sometimes non-existent.  Lately it's only been about 45 minutes max.  Afternoon naps are still at 2pm and usually last until 3:30 or 4pm.  I think you are definitely getting to the point where you are ready for just one nap.  I sure hope it turns into a 3-4 hour nap like it did for Pearson.

Eating:
I am still nursing you first thing in the morning, before afternoon nap and at bedtime.  I think you are ready to drop the nap time nursing, but I'm not.  I'm seriously having the hardest time weaning you. I think you could probably wean soon, but I won't let you! Ha! You decided you LOVE whole milk this month.  You can't get enough of it!! You eat three meals a day and have a couple snacks throughout the day.  You love baby goldfish, any kind of fruit, especially pears, grapes, and bananas.  You also love pork chops.  You love to eat bread all by yourself.  You have been kind of moody lately when it comes to your food.  Sometime you push all of it away and sometimes you eat it all up faster than I can cut it.  When you are done you are done.  You don't want any food on your tray when you are done.  You are a food swiper which makes it absolutely impossible to keep my floors clean. 

New Tricks/Activities/Accomplishments: 
You are starting to take a few steps.  The week before Easter you would walk off furniture and take 2-3 steps but then fall.  On Easter you took about 7 steps.  You are going to be full blown walking so soon. You are also just standing up by yourself in the middle of the room.  You stick your tongue out and pant when we way "What does the puppy say?".  You wave bye-bye to everyone you see whether they see you or not.  You love to bob your head when you hear music.  When Daddy leaves for work in the morning you blow a kiss, by putting your hand on your mouth then sticking your hand out. 

Words:

Da-De (Daddy) Hiiiiii, Bye-Bye, Bubu and Mama, {New This Month}>>>> Heeeyyyy, Doh (duck), Pu-Pee (puppy), Ba-Bee (Baby), Ah-Oh (with a big round mouth)

Teeth:

5 (3 top/2 bottom) I can see your top right molar coming it but it is barely peeping.  

Likes:
Baths….especially now that you aren't in the bathseat anymore, throwing things, getting into anything and everything you aren't supposed to, going on walks, riding a horsey, being tickled.

Dislikes:
Getting out of the bath, socks and shoes, diaper changes, when we take something away or close doors on you, when Pearson pushes you down or is on top of you.

Other Random Facts:

• You are into EVERYTHING.  Seriously EVERYTHING.
• You have a little attitude when we try to take things away from you.  You hold on tight, go back and forth and hold on with a death grip.  
• You will wave to anyone and everyone even if they aren't looking.  You wave with you hand way high above your head.  As soon as they acknowledge you, you get all shy and tuck your head down.
• Every morning we find a paci all the way by your door because you have chunked it from the crib.  
• I'm having a much harder time taking the paci away from you than I did with Pearson.  With him, he only had it inside the crib.  You are just more moody so I give it too you when you aren't in a good mood and it usually solves the problem.
• When I am about to put food on your tray, you point down on the tray.  It's like you are saying "Put the food down right here!".
• You get soooooooo annoyed with your brother always being on top of you.  
• You are so tough.  You get beat up by brother and fall down so hard but never seem bothered by it.  
• We took you out of the bathseat for bath time and you love to play and splash really big.  You love to line up all the ducks on the ledge and say "doh, doh, doh".
• You are a food thrower.  At dinner when you are done you start to throw your food.  It's so hard not to laugh because you can throw it clear across the table.  Sometimes you will rear back and make it look like you are going to throw it, then put it in your mouth.  Such a stinker!!

Here is Pearson at 14 months and Nash at 14 months.

 Look how you have changed……

Moving......

Last week we announced that we were moving, however we left out a pretty big detail. We are officially moving to TYLER. Matt has accepted a wonderful new job there and he starts June 1st. We are excited for this new job opportunity and excited for some more space in a new (to us) house, but we are going to miss our friends and family here so much. It's definitely a bittersweet move! The Lord has orchestrated each little step along the way and it is all working out perfectly, so we know it's where we are supposed to be. We are excited for all The Lord has in store for us as we take our little family on this new adventure to East Texas.

meal planning monday

Monday: Me: Bunco Boys: Spicy Sausage Pasta, Green Beans & garlic Toast

Tuesday: Oven Baked Fajitas & Guacamole

Wednesday: Chicken Salad Sandwiches & Chips

Thursday: Lasagna Soup

Friday: Mississippi Roast

Saturday Breakfast: Homemade Donuts

Saturday Lunch: Quesadillas

Saturday Dinner: Roast Beef Sandwiches

Sunday Lunch: Taco Salad

Sunday Dinner: Top Golf Date Night

what's up wednesday?

I thought I would pop in and let you know what's up in our world since it's been a while since I posted.  

Does anyone even read this blog anymore??

I've become quite the terrible blogger since Nash has been born.  Definitely not his fault.  I've just gotten lazy and don't make it a priority anymore.  I am determined to change that soon, but it probably won't be until we sell our house!

Say what???

Yep, we are moving!!! 

Our first home goes on the market THIS Friday!!

We have been working on getting it all nice and pretty for buyers over the last few weekends.  We just had it cleaned and now the boys and I are avoiding our house except for nap time and bedtime so it will stay clean for this weekend.  We are praying BIG prayers that it sells fast!! 

meal planning monday

My kitchen is pretty much closed this week since our house is going on the market.  

Monday: Taste of Italy  (Fundraiser for P's School)

Tuesday: Fuzzy's with My Parent's

Wednesday: Out before Small Group

Thursday: Ming Moon

Friday: Dinner with Matt's Family

Saturday: William's Engagement Party

Sunday: Joyland Celebration @ Church

meal planning monday

Monday: Leftovers

Tuesday: Pork Tacos & Guacamole

Wednesday: Chicken Poppyseed Casserole, Green Beans, & French Bread

Thursday: Monterey Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli Salad, 

Friday: Spaghetti & Meatsauce, Green Beans & Garlic Knots

Saturday Lunch: Chicken Salad

Saturday Dinner: BBQ Chicken Pizza

Sunday Lunch: Easter Lunch w/ Family

Sunday Dinner: Breakfast for Dinner

my little sunshines

I am loving this spring weather with my little sunshines.  We have gone to the park or gone on a walk every day that it has been pretty.  In the past week we have gone to The Firefighter's Park, The Pirate Park, Murphy Central Park, and the park behind our house.

Pearson's favorite park is most definitely The Firefighter's Park right now.  I'm sure next week it will be a different one.

Nash is a fan of any park that has swings, As am I, because it makes my life a little easier to have one kid "locked up".

Nash is so chill when he swings.  He just crosses his little hands and soaks in the sunshine.

Sometimes he is so chill it looks like he could just fall asleep.  

 Lolly, Ashley and Oliva even joined us one day.   

 This spring is going to be crazy since Nash will be walking around soon.  He is getting closer and closer to walking every day so I am savoring these sweet moments of him just sitting because it won't be long until he is running around the park chasing his big brother and wanting to do whatever he is doing.

I can make a promise to you, if it's a pretty day this spring…...you'll probably see us at the park.

 What is your favorite park around town?
We'd love to try some new parks out this spring!

meal planning monday

Monday: Dinner @ My Parents

Tuesday: Out to Eat with Family

Wednesday: Pick up FREE Corner Bakery

Thursday: Lasagna Roll Ups, Veggies, & Garlic Knots

Friday: Chicken Spaghetti (Extra for The Howards)

Saturday Breakfast: Homemade Donuts

Saturday Lunch: Grilled Cheese, Chips & Fruit

Saturday Dinner: Chef Boyardee Pizza

Sunday Lunch: Edamame Bean Salad

Sunday Dinner: Monterey Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Veggies & Rolls

meal planning monday

Monday: Leftovers

Tuesday: Baked Fajitas & Black Beans & Quacamole

Wednesday: Goulash & Cornbread

Thursday: Me & Boys: Out to Eat Matt: Work Thing

Friday: Pork Chops w/ Apples & Cheesy Grits

Saturday Breakfast: Breakfast Pull Apart Bread

Saturday Lunch: Veggie Quesadillas

Saturday Dinner: Monterrey Chicken, Creamed Corn, French Bead

Sunday Lunch: Out to Eat

Sunday Dinner: Shrimp Scampi, Zucchini, & Garlic Knots 

pearson {3 years 9 months}

• One time we were driving somewhere and you asked, "Are we going back or forth?"
• You called a crescent moon a criss cross moon.  
• As we were driving you said, "Hey, the sun is following me!"
• We drove by a skunk and you said, "Do you smell that stunk?"
• If we tell you that you can't do something, you always say, "I can do that when I'm a Daddy!"
• You said that when you grow up you want to be a Daddy and then a bird.  Okay?
• After we read a Bible story and say prayers, you immediately tell us "Get out of my bed!"
• The tot clock is working beautifully! You usually wake up any where from 6:45-7:00 but you just roll around and play with your pillow and stare at the clock until 7:15 then come running into our bedroom. 
• Nash had a shirt on that said "Off to Grandma's".  You looked at it and said "Nash's shirt says….Off to Grimaldi's".  We had been to Grimaldi's the day before. 
• You like to put things on your head and say it's a "halio" like an angel.
• You are a total sight word reader. You can just look at words and pretty much figure it out.  

klyde warren park

On Thursday, Ashley and I took the kids to Klyde Warren park.  I had been wanting to go ever since it opened.  We were hoping that the sun would come out but it stuck around 60 degrees and cloudy for most of the day……at least it didn't rain!!  Pearson was so excited to pack a picnic.  It's so funny that something so simple can make him so happy!!

 As usual, Nash hung out in the stroller most of the time.  I feel bad that at this age Pearson got to do a whole lot more, but Nash isn't walking yet and it's too hard to keep my eye on both of them.  Thankfully he doesn't mind being in the stroller one bit……as long as I keep the snacks coming!!

 The thing I was most looking forward to at Klyde Warren Park was the food trucks.  I have only eaten at food trucks a hand full of times, but they have never disappointed.  I ate at one called The Butcher's Son and I got beef braised quesadillas.  They were soooooo good……..and pretty reasonable priced.  

Miss Oliva kept Nash entertained while I ate my messy (but oh so delicious) quesadillas.

I don't know why I didn't think about packing a ball for Nash because he LOVES to play catch.  Thankfully Carson brought a football and let Nash play with it for a little bit.  He didn't get to crawl around as much as he would have liked because the ground was still a little damp from all the rain the day before.  He was not a happy camper when I made him get back in his stroller. 

 Before we headed back home we when and played at the Children's Park for a little while.  It was so incredibly crowded.  Not only was it Spring Break, but there was also some Jeff Gordon even going on  and the place was filled with Nascar fans. Pretty much all Pearson was able to do was slide down this little hill, ha! He thought it was awesome though!!

I'm so glad Ashley and the kids went with us.  It's not an adventure I would have wanted to do on my own.  I don't drive in Dallas by myself.  I would have gotten lost, driven on the wrong side of the road and never found a parking spot if I went by myself!! 

 Love these sweet boys and the adventures we get to take together!!

 Now……don't hate me for saying this…….
but I need to honest about our visit to Klyde Warren Park.

While our day was definitely enjoyable and the food was great, I don't really see us going back any time soon.  It's a long drive for us for a picnic and a small and crowded park that to me isn't all that great.  At one point, Pearson even said, "Is this the park?" I think he was a little underwhelmed.  It's definitely more of a play ball and run around kind of park and when Pearson thinks of a park he thinks of slide and swings.  I think we will just stick to picnicking and playing at the parks closer to home!! 

I'm glad I can say I have been to Klyde Warren Park though.  I definitely think it's a Dallas must do thing!!

sealife aquarium

I was given two free tickets to the Grapevine Mills Mall Sealife Aquarium almost two years ago.  For some reason we just never could find the time to go.  We finally got around to going over there and using our tickets this past weekend.   With all the snow and ice days we had in the last few weeks, we were all ready to get out of the house for a Family Fun Day!!

There are 3 Aquariums in the Dallas Area: The Dallas Aquarium, The Grapevine Sealife Aquarium, & The Children's Aquarium at Fair Park. I have been to all three, so I can definitely say you get what you pay for.  However I think they are all a little over priced…..especially for young kids. 

At Sealife Aquarium it is  $20 for adults and $16 for children (3 & up) if you walk up and pay.  That's absolutely ridiculous…..that's more expensive than the Dallas Zoo.  Way to expensive if you ask me!  If you pay online it's $16 for adults and $12 for children.  That's better, but they still get you with online processing fees.  I get coupons in magazine's all the time with $12 ticket deals or BOGO tickets.  I think the cheapest way to go is to definitely find a coupon!!

While we definitely enjoyed ourselves, I would have been a little disappointed if we had paid full price for our tickets.  It only took us about an hour to get through the whole thing. 

Pearson was so excited to see all the fish as soon as we walked in.  We tried to get Pearson to go into this glass ball with Matt but he wasn't interested.  He looked at the fish for a few minutes and was ready to move on. No time for photo ops.  

Clearly I am not a photographer because the crazy lights made my pictures look funny, but we looking at all the different creatures.

It was fun to talk to the boys about how God was so creative making all of these sea creatures so unique and different.  

Pearson was so funny when we got to this walkway.  He would not walk on the glass.  We had to convince him it was okay!!

I'm really not sure how we convinced him to take this picture, but I sure love that sweet smile!!

Nash was in awe of all of the fish. He would just stare in amusement.  He happily stayed in the stroller the majority of the time just looking at all the fishes.  

At the very last exhibit, I took Nash out and we crawled underneath the take to get a good look at the fish. Nash loved it. He was all smiles and loved touching the glass to try to get the fish!!

After we saw all of the exhibits in the aquarium, we ate lunch in the food court and strolled around the mall.  When we got home both boys crashed for nice 2 hour long afternoon nap.  I'd call that a successful day!!